In February of 2023, I received an unimaginable gift from co-founder, Mike Konle (driving the forklift). A 40' flatbed full of machinery and tooling used by my dad and him in the earliest years of RedLine. It was kept safe for decades, as if just waiting for me.
These machines are not the most efficient or easy to use by today's standards, but they are the actual machines that built our RedLine memories and have become the most cherished material objects I will ever own. Without them, there might still be some significance to me doing this, but using original machinery to do it - half a century later... Well, if authenticity is important, we have that covered! Just a few examples below.
1942 Southbend 16" Lathe
Originally owned by co-founder Mike Konle's father, this old South Bend was Red Line's first machine tool. It was used in Mike's garage in the very early days when his house was the machine shop and ours was the welding shop. Cleaning and preparing this machine for work was a joy and I use it every day. it even wears official War Era badging. Back then, the operator's awareness was his only line of defense against hungry machines like this one. And since three phase motors don't require a ground wire to run, it didn't have one when I got it. My 1940s and Red Line counterparts might call me a wuss, but I added a ground. I trust my awareness around a spinning chuck, but I can't see electricity.
1976 Conrac 210 Synchro Bender
This hydraulic mandrel tube bender was special ordered and built for RedLine in January of 1976. How do I know that? Because I have the original invoice, signed by my father. Yep, the serial numbers match. I also have all the original bending dies for it, including the modular die that was used to bend the 1/2" x 1" rectangular chain stays on 1976 Squarebacks. She can be a bit finicky, but since every "automatic" feature must be mechanically set up, we've become very well acquainted. You might even say, intimate. Every tube needing a bend for a RedLine piece is "influenced" by the trusty blue lady.
G.T. Schmidt Model 175 Hydraulic Roll Marker
What a cool machine this is. And, probably one that most people have never heard of. It's used to apply a stamp in metal, but with even pressure and a rolling action rather than a sudden blow. This way, only a small portion of the overall marking is being transferred at a given time. Plus, it can place a mark around the full 360 degrees of a tube and has been used for decades for knurling and marking sockets. It even came with original tooling and dies, such as one used for knurling handlebars. After my dad and Mike Konle ended their partnership, Mike used this machine on other brands that he manufactured. I have original die sets made by G.T.Schmidt for Mongoose handlebars and seat posts. Not RedLine, but irreplaceable BMX history all the same.
Rousselle 10 ton Punch Press
Bought brand new by RedLine with two larger versions, this punch press was used for many things. It can handle low tonnage stamping and forming of metal parts and for RedLine, it also did some tube mitering. Punch press die sets were custom made to make a fish mouth cut on one side of the tube at a time. A different depth of cut for each side, producing the desired angle. I also use it for a quick set up way to add my little stamp to certain parts. It's not a big machine, but when the heavy flywheel is up to speed and the foot pedal is depressed, the crank will either make a complete revolution or get jammed. No, a finger is NOT going to jam it. You know what that means. And not a safety feature to be found on this one. Old machines demand respect!
More Machinery and Tooling Coming Soon.
